Question 1

What does it mean that some standing there would see the kingdom of God come with power?

Accepted Answer

Jesus says that some of those listening would not die before they saw the kingdom of God come with power. This points to a near event, not something far in the future. In the wider story, the kingdom comes in power when Jesus rises from the dead, pours out the Holy Spirit, and the good news spreads among both Jews and Gentiles. God’s rule shows itself clearly as many are changed, and as old structures that opposed him are judged. So Jesus is preparing his disciples to expect a real, visible advance of God’s reign within their own lifetime.

Question 2

What is happening when Jesus is transfigured on the high mountain?

Accepted Answer

On the mountain, Jesus is changed in front of Peter, James, and John. His clothes become shining and whiter than anything on earth, showing a glimpse of his divine glory. Moses and Elijah appear and talk with him about what he is going to suffer. This is not a dream but a real event meant to strengthen the disciples’ faith. They are about to see Jesus rejected and put to death, so here God lets them see who he truly is. The transfiguration shows that the one who will suffer is also full of heavenly glory.

Question 3

Why do Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Moses and Elijah appear as living, conscious servants of God who now share in glory. Moses is closely linked with the law, and Elijah with the prophets. Their presence shows that the law and the prophets point to Jesus and agree with his mission. They are not there to teach him, but to bear witness to him. By talking with Jesus about what he is about to do, they show that his suffering and death are not a failure but part of God’s long-planned purpose. Their appearance also reassures the disciples that Jesus’ path, though hard, fits with everything God has spoken before.

Question 4

Why did Peter want to build three tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah?

Accepted Answer

Peter is overwhelmed by what he sees. He says, “Master, it is good for us to be here,” and offers to make three shelters, one for each of them. He does this because the moment feels holy and he wants to hold onto it. The passage explains that he did not know what to say, because they were very afraid. His idea was sincere but confused. He treats Jesus, Moses, and Elijah almost as equals and seems to want to stay on the mountain instead of going back down to the hard work and suffering ahead. This shows how easily we can cling to special experiences and forget God’s wider plan.

Question 5

What is the meaning of the voice from the cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son, hear him”?

Accepted Answer

The cloud that covers them is a sign of God’s presence, like in earlier times when God’s glory came in a cloud. From that cloud, a voice says, “This is my beloved Son, hear him.” This is God the Father speaking about Jesus. He confirms that Jesus is his unique Son and that his words carry full authority. The command “hear him” tells the disciples to listen to Jesus above everyone else, even above Moses and Elijah who are standing there. It means his teaching explains the law and the prophets and must be obeyed. It’s a clear call to trust what Jesus says, including his words about suffering and rising again.

Question 6

Why did Jesus tell the three disciples not to talk about the vision until he had risen from the dead?

Accepted Answer

As they come down from the mountain, Jesus orders them to tell no one what they saw until after he has risen from the dead. The timing matters. If they spoke of his glory without understanding his suffering and resurrection, people might look only for a bright, earthly king and miss the cross. Jesus wants the full picture of who he is to be shared: the glorious Son who also dies and rises. The disciples obey, but they quietly discuss among themselves what “rising from the dead” could mean. This shows they still don’t grasp that he will personally die and then be raised.

Question 7

Why were the disciples confused about “rising from the dead” if they already believed in resurrection?

Accepted Answer

The disciples did know that there would be a general resurrection at the end of the age. Their confusion is not about that. They cannot understand what Jesus means when he speaks of his own, specific rising from the dead. For him to rise, he must first die, and this clashes with their idea of the Messiah as someone who would rule in obvious glory right away. They struggle to fit together the prophecies of a suffering servant with their hope for a powerful, earthly kingdom. So they keep the saying to themselves and argue about what this personal resurrection could look like.

Question 8

What does Jesus mean when he says Elijah comes first and restores all things?

Accepted Answer

When the disciples ask about the scribes saying Elijah must come first, Jesus agrees that Elijah comes and restores all things. He is talking about someone who comes in the spirit and role of Elijah. In the wider story, this points to John the Baptist. Through his preaching of repentance and his call to prepare the way of the Lord, John helps set things right. He corrects wrong ideas, calls people back to God, and explains that the promised one will suffer. In that way, he “restores” by turning people’s hearts and understanding before the Messiah’s public work reaches its peak.

Question 9

How has Elijah already come, and what did people do to him?

Accepted Answer

Jesus says, “Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed.” He is pointing to a past coming that matches the promise about Elijah. This is fulfilled in John the Baptist, who came in a similar spirit and power. People heard John’s fiery call to repent, but many rejected him. Some leaders despised his message, and finally he was imprisoned and killed. In saying they did whatever they wanted to him, Jesus shows that God’s servant who comes before the Messiah is treated harshly. This prepares the disciples to see that the Son of man himself will also suffer and be set at nothing.

Question 10

How does this passage hold together Jesus’ glory and his suffering?

Accepted Answer

In this scene, Jesus shines with heavenly light and is honored by God’s voice. Moses and Elijah appear beside him. Everything points to his great glory and his place at the center of God’s plan. Yet in the same conversation, Jesus speaks about the Son of man suffering many things and being rejected. He links Elijah’s coming with a servant who is badly treated. So the passage teaches that glory and suffering belong together in his mission. The bright moment on the mountain is real, but it does not replace the path to the cross. Instead, it shows that the one who suffers is the beloved Son whose kingdom has real power.

Mark 9:1

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

The Transfiguration

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Mark 9:1

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

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The Transfiguration

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